Sunday, 20 June 2010

MFW Day 1 show of the day: Burberry Prorsum Spring Summer 2011

burberry prorsum presented their spring summer 2011 show on saturday in milan. i've been a keen follower of burberry prorsum, as a blogger, as a consumer, as someone interested in fashion. it was a privilege to attend their past two shows in person in milan, being at the heart of the action, the excitement, the energy, seeing the clothes up close after the show. you can watch the show live in 3D or twit about it in the comfort of your own home, but nothing comes close to being at the show itself. yes, a part of me still misses the shows.

i've not talked about burberry prorsum for quite a while on here, i don't know why. they are a great british institution, i have great believe in their vision and leadership. i am even a proud shareholder. if i may, i want to fall in love with burberry again.

pic credit: getty images

i've heard plenty of naysayers too easily brushing off burberry's collections as repetitive season on season. the trench is at the heart of their DNA, in the house's history they made coats for the officers in the military. key pieces are then tweaked, updated, cropped and loosened. it's called respect to the house.

for spring 2011, the burberry prorsum men have grown up to reveal a darker side to them. there were a lot more leather pieces in this collection, most embellished with studs and spikes. like my observation at missoni's spring 2011 collection, burberry prorsum's collection seemed a little heavy for spring/summer as well. outer wear remains a key focus, so much so that 30 pieces from this collection is available for purchase right now, with delivery in 6 - 8 weeks time. yes, fall winter 2010 collections aren't in stores yet, and we now have the chance to wear one season ahead.

pic credit: burberry.com

one reason why i love burberry so much is because of their vision. i'm sure i'm not the only one to be frustrated by instances where we love the runway look so much but having to wait 6-8 months for it to arrive in stores. by then, new season looks appeared on the runway and we have a change of hearts. providing the opportunity to purchase looks straight off the runway is a great concept. being one of the first to show during the menswear schedule, they effectively captured the hearts and wallets of their audience.

besides the dangerously looking studded pieces, there were also military influenced pieces, a theme carried over from the glorious and epic fall winter 2010 collection. i really really like the above cotton jacket, which is a cross between a biker and military jacket. if not for the fact that i already have 2 similar jackets in my wardrobe, this is a serious contender for me.

pic credit: burberry.com

next piece that i really really like, is this quilted military green jacket. probably the safest looking piece from the collection, this is something i could wear over my work wear on weekdays, and one that i could easily wear on off days. a versatile piece that i could see myself wearing for many years, a true investment piece. this is the part where i wish i am in milan now, so i can try it on and feel the touch.

the pre-order closes on sunday 27th june 2010, and pieces will be delivered in 6-8 weeks. i am seriously very keen. and i always thought i, as a consumer, would be a benchmark. this pre-ordering opportunity straight off the runway will be a big thing.

i have a week to decide, if i would like to wear this jacket this fall when it gets chilly, and 6 months before it even hits the shop floor.

pic credit: gq.com/firstview

since it's buying straight off the runway, this is how it looked on the runway a few hours earlier. not the most fashion forward piece, but i know i will have the confidence to carry it off. and if your eyes are drawn to the interesting looking and perfectly tanned bag, it is available for pre-order too.

pic credit: getty images

i like the bag, but not sure if i can carry it off like how the model did it on the runway. thing is, even if i missed out, i can still try it when it arrives in store in january 2011.

pic credit: getty images

it is a big triumph, how they tweaked pieces subtly to create looks which were so different to the past seasons but still respecting the house's integrity. 30 pieces of outerwear and a selection of accessories are available for pre-order online here. pre-ordering closes on sunday 27th june 2010.